WWW: December 15, 2010

Welcome dear readers to this week’s World Wide Wednesday. I will be your chaperone through various wanderings across the intertubes. Amanda always did such a great job with these segments, and it will be difficult to fill her shoes. Seriously, I wear size 14 so these things are killing me. Read the article with an English accent and it will help you in your transition from Amanda to myself. I shall do my best to be your new guide.  In the coming weeks if you find something interesting you think everyone should read, drop me line via the contact form and let me know, or just post it below. Ok, Let’s go…

1) Amazon starts offering Bookscan data to authors: This is a big deal. Essentially Amazon has given authors a sales/marketing tool that publishers were dropping huge money for just a few years ago. The bad news is that some authors have already developed a complex from watching Amazon sales rankings, so watching sales in this kind of detail will likely drive them mad.

2) A Wrinkle in Time hits the stage : Madeleine L’Engle‘s A Wrinkle in Time is an important piece of children’s literature, and the introduction of many kids into the world of Speculative Fiction. John Glore has taken this beloved classic and adapted it for stage, and has apparently done an excellent job of it.

3) Google Launches E-Book Store: Google takes a stab at Amazon by entering into the e-book market in a major way. Google not only has massive support from publishers, but it is also bringing along its substantial public domain library, too. So that copy of The Scarlet Pimpernel you’ve always wanted can finally be yours. Google books are both downloadable and web based. They are compatible with every device…. except Kindle.

4) A quick look at the bestselling Fantasy books on Amazon : I always find lists like these interesting. You are always going to see the regulars like Charlaine Harris and Stephenie Meyer hanging around. Then there are a few that surprise me like Michael Sullivan’s The Crown Conspiracy at #16. I’m not sure exactly how Amazon calculates the bestselling list, but it is nice to see some underdogs being listed up top.

5) World of Warcraft splits sales record skulls: I did my time in WoW, and then I got over it. I swore never to return, but this expansion sure did have me tempted. Couple that with $10 bundles for the game and first expansion… must… say… nooo…..

6) Five Sci-Fi Children’s Books: This is just for laughs. Personally I like the Dr.Who cover the most.

7) Calling All Jim Butcher Fans…: Orbit UK wants to hear from you. Orbit has a busy Dresden schedule in 2011 in the UK and they wish to celebrate with a little feedback and some prizes. You can only win if you are in the UK, but it could still be fun to share why you’re a Jim Butcher fan.

Author Chum

In this section I’ll post bits and pieces of news from various fantasy authors:

• NK Jemisin and Jesse Bullington Make a sale to Orbit
• Pat Rothfuss exceeds charity goal
• Kim Harrison announces Pale Demon tour locations
• The Gaiman interviewed on Kevin Smith’s Podcast

That wraps it up for this week. Thank you for joining me. Feel free to post your own links in the comments below, or submit them to me for next week via the contact form.